A. NSPS employees with ratings of record of “2” or higher will receive 100 percent of the GS base salary increase as an across the board pay adjustment.

Q. Do NSPS employees with a rating of record of “2” or higher receive local market supplement adjustments?

A. Yes. Employees with ratings of record of “2” or higher will receive local market supplement adjustments equivalent to the GS locality pay adjustments specified for their work locations. Employees who have a rating of record of “1 – Unacceptable” are not eligible for local market supplement adjustments.

Q. What happens to an NSPS employee who does not have an NSPS rating of record?

A. NSPS employees without ratings of record will also receive the full GS base salary increase and locality pay adjustments.

Q. What is the amount of the January 2010 GS base salary increase?

A. The actual amount of the GS base salary increase will not be known until the
President signs an Executive Order implementing the 2010 pay adjustment.

Q. How is the Secretary’s decision different from last year?

A. Last year, the Secretary exercised his discretion to allocate 40 percent of the GS base salary increase to NSPS pay pools for performance-based salary increases. This year, no portion of the GS base salary increase will be allocated to pay pool funds. Instead, 100 percent of the GS base salary increase will be paid as an across-the-board increase to employees with ratings of record of “2” or higher.

Q. Does this mean there is no money for NSPS pay pools?

A. No. While the NSPS pay pool funds will not include any money associated with the GS base salary increase, pay pools will continue to have money available for performance-based salary increases and bonuses, preserving the link between pay and performance under NSPS.

Q. Why is the Department doing this?

A. Given the ongoing leadership review of NSPS and in consideration of recommendations made by the Defense Business Board in its recently published report on NSPS, the Department leadership decided this was the most prudent course of action.